Entry Log: My Humble Abode

To The People,

Leonard Hall is the building on the left in red.

As I have stated previously, my new place of residence come September is Leonard Hall. This quasi-unknown residence on the main campus is often overshadowed by the much larger Victoria Hall and the much newer Leggett Hall but rest assured that this place is a gem in an otherwise bland landscape of cubic zirconias.

According to the Queen's University website, "Leonard Hall was built in 1959 on land given to Queen's in 1923 by Reuben Wells Leonard (1860-1930) in recognition of the services of its graduates and students in the First World War. Both Leonard Hall and Leonard Field are named in his honour. Leonard Hall was one of several residences built at Queen's in the 1950s when a housing shortage caused by WWII prompted the administration to focus their building program on residences."

Another website calls it a tribute to the cinder block and linoleum temples of the past (I know what you're thinking but persevere!). All this being said, this does not leave the impression that this is a residence of grand standing or amusement of any kind but rather makes us think that this is an annex to the infamous Kingston Penitentiary... A disturbingly close neighbour. Alas! This edifice did receive great recognition from AskMen.com in which it gave Leonard Hall the 5th spot in the Top 10 University Dorms in Canada! Who would have thought? So take that all you non-believers and join the ranks of the faithful.

Yours,

T

Entry Log: Gone With The Wind Come Back With The Breeze

To The People,

Departures are always a difficult situation that one must deal with. You grow up with people that you learn to love and for better or worse shape the person you have become. But leaving and moving on to bigger and better things are a part of life and seem horribly natural when it comes to post-secondary education. I myself have a few friends leaving in order to study elsewhere. One of these people is someone with whom I have only begun to know recently. Yes, our unbreakable bond formed during the grueling and sometimes scary experience that was Cancun during March Break. Indeed, a friendship forged from a concoction of alcoholic beverages and tequila is one to stand the test of time! That being said, this person is moving away, far away to the southern state of Georgia on a full-ride scholarship for soccer. Snooki (I know, I'm guilty of a Jersey Shore reference but there is a story behind it) is hopefully going to bring with her a canadiana spice that will shake-up this somewhat stigmatized traditional southern state. Her flamboyant personality will most definitely rock the campus since, in the infamous words of Jersey Shore, hurricane Snooki is coming in! This will provide her, and anyone else for that matter who's going away for school, a great wealth of experience in which you can immerse yourself. New people, new sights to see, new culture and atmosphere... Imagine taking on the world and all its wonders! The simple thought of this warms my cockles... Oh how I wish to be a well seasoned world traveler but that will be for another day and another time.

Yours,

T

Entry Log: The Lottery

To The People,

Leonard Hall

As my departure to Queen's inches nearer and nearer, the bombardment with information and the ever elongating to-do-lists never cease to come to the forefront of my day. This past Friday though, a critical and much anticipated piece of information was finally made public: The residences! On that day, as the clock struck noon, I found myself helplessly on Qcard whilst still at the office. It seems as if the mouse had a mind of its own and found its way onto clicking the appropriate links to the page where I would be able to find which one of Queen's residences I shall find myself in come September. Upon opening the page, I see it, the name of my new home: Leonard Hall West. There was a slight and momentary feeling of disappointment about being assigned to this residence. It's not one of the newer buildings and has not been updated since what seems to be the 1950's. But, upon further researching this edifice, I soon realize that this is indeed something fantastical with plenty of perks to go around! It just so happens that in this very building is the new main campus cafeteria! Although the people (including one of my friends) from Leggett and Watts are probably laughing at me now, I shall be the one laughing when I see them arrive at the cafeteria one early Kingston winter morning with more layers on then the Michelin Man. I, on the other hand, shall take full advantage my predicament and shall wonder my way downstairs in a very cozy and yet conservative pair of pyjamas. Oh yes Leggett and Watts, we shall see who is laughing then!

On a side note, full knowing that this weekend marked the August long weekend, I found myself up at my cottage surround by family and friends. Amongst those friends are some who currently attend Queen's and shall be heading in to their second year and this great post-secondary institution. One of these friends in particular ask me where I have been assigned for residence since it is done by random lottery. I reply with Leonard along with my room number and wing. In an act of unspoken happiness and euphoria, he grabs me and shakes whilst announcing to me that I find myself on the same floor of the same wing of the same residence that he enjoyed the previous school year! Coincidence? I think not! Queen's has indeed conspired to make sure that I too enjoy one of the best years of my life!

Yours,

T

Entry Log: T -54 Days and Counting

To The People,

Queen's is fast approaching and with every passing day the more and more I get excited! Today I received "THE FROSH HANDBOOK: Class of 2014" in the mail. Inside this most sacred of documents is a wealth of information of good things yet to come. I am now at the student phase of my life where the word "free" is constantly searched for in order to avoid having to inflict anymore pain upon my already very damaged bank account. Imagine my joy when in the handbook they announced a street side sale where there would be free (yes, soak it in while you can!) stuff for students. This handy-dandy handbook also described the many traditions that are considered holy to any good Gael. Everything from the Tamming Ceremony to the painting of our coveralls, the Orientation Committee has already put tradition at the forefront of this entire operation. It makes me that much more proud knowing that people feel attatched to their school community. If only this we're seen in more academic institutions (i.e. my lovely highschool)!

Yours,

T

Entry Log: The End of a Chapter... The Beginning of Another

To The People,

Yesterday was my final day of high school and like most people I lived through the bittersweet feeling that loomed over the grads all day. This was one of my first times going through the 5 stages of grief:

1. Denial: "This can't be happening! It's impossible that I'm done high school!"
2. Anger: "This is stupid! I'm not leaving so everyone just leave me alone!"
3. Bargaining: "I'll do anything to stay! I'll even go back to those awkward grade 7 and 8 years!"
4. Depression: "Just leave me here to wallow in my sadness. Why go on?"
5. Acceptance: "My time is done here but I have more to do so Queen's here I come!"

Thanks Kubler-Ross for giving the framework for the serious emotional roller coaster that I was on yesterday!

We sometimes take high school for granted as well as the memories and the people that accompany it. I have always wanted to make my high school experience something special that I would always remember and cherish. I guess that's why I got involved early on in Student Government and why I continued on to become it's Prime Minister. In order to make a difference in my own life, I had to make a difference in the lives of others. Some people might argue that for four years I was tucked away in my office where every lunch I was crammed with meetings and teachers requiring an explanation for this or a suggestion for that. In the end though, it was by far one of the most enriching and exciting experiences of my life. I was able to have a say at the table on school policy and changes affecting student life, I was able to bring about change and new ideas that would excite students and make them proud of their school. In this final year, I was truly blessed to have such a supportive team around me to make my very large ambitions a reality. Handing over the reigns to my successor is no easy feat. After being on the Student Government for four years and the School Council for three, it's hard to let go when you know you wish to accomplish so much more. I guess that's one of the biggest parts of the job though: Knowing when to let go. I leave behind me something that I am proud of and that student's will appreciate for years to come. I plan on getting involved at Queen's with the same passion and enthusiasm that I had throughout my high school years so watch out Golden Gaels... A change is goin' to come!

Yours,

T

Entry Log: The Beginning

To The People,

Well this is a day filled with new experiences for me: my first blog and my acceptance of the offer from my dream university! I would however like to clearly state that although the title of this blog implies that I might be some Star Trek aficionado, I am nothing of the sort but it seems that I have retained that certain Trekkie zest after recently watching the movie (a must see!) this week.

In essence, this blog is to chronicle my life at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and whatever frivolities that may accompany it. This is certainly a very exciting time as well as a very tiring time for me. In the midst of the decisions and the countless discussions about where I will find myself for the next four years of my life, I have been writing the gruesome and sometimes very fickle International Baccalaureate exams that will continue on until the 24th of May. Yes, Victoria Day Monday is my final exam and it is clear that the IBO spares no expense at trying to make this an even more horrible experience, but I shall go in to school on that Monday and do so with gusto! I personally refuse to let somebody who's in Geneva ruin my day.

Moving on... I suppose it might be wise to recount the tale of how Queen's was finally chosen as my post-secondary institution. Well, this past Friday night my fam jam had one of their frequent dinner parties in which we saw some of the most exciting personalities in the National Capital Region! They were all family members with a well deserved reputation of being socially flamboyant. It is one of the great things about my family and I consider it to be one of their greatest qualities. As such, it was around 15 minutes after midnight and the topic of which university I was going to choose came to the forefront of the discussion. One of the people sitting at the table was my aunt who, ever cleverly, crossed the property line between our two houses wearing a sweater with Queen's University written in big gold letters on it when she came over for dinner. I guess I was to assume that this was some sort of clue as to where she was leaning on the matter! So we collectively talked around the table about the different pros and cons for Queen's and the other university in question. Finally, the phrase "Just do it!" (Nike) came across someone's lips and the room cheered in support in which I promptly followed suit. Queen's it was! And just like that the decision was made. Is it wrong that this decision was made in such an informal way? Is it wrong that red wine played such an important role throughout the evening? I think not and quite frankly I wouldn't have had it any other way!

Yours,

T